Furniture top construction



May 30, 1933. c. R. UHL

FURNITURE TOP CONSTRUCTION Filed April 22. 1931 zjwuento'a MR. w

Patented May 39, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT" 1 CLEMENT R. UHL, OF TOLEDO, OHIG, ASSIGNOR TO THE TOLEDO IVLETALYFURNITURE.

COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO,A CORFORATION OF OHIO i FURNITURE TOP CONSTRUGTION' Application filed April 22,

This invention relates more especially to metal furniture, and particularly to the top construction of desks and tables of such type.

In the manufacture of metal desks and tables it is the practice, in order to obtain a perfectly flat surface, to employ a sheet of stretch-flat sheet metal and to face the top surface of this with linoleum or other suitable non-metallic material. Molding strips of wood or other suitable material are customarily a plied to the edges of such top sheet and acing to give the table or desk edge a finished appearance, to strengthen such edge, and to protect the edge of the facing material. 1

In practice, difliculty has been experienced in providing a suitable rigid holding means for the edge molding, which when attached to the top plate will not efiect a warping and distorting thereof, as it is found that such plates, particularly when of the stretch-fiat type, are more sensitive to warping than others, and considerable care must, therefore, be exercised in attaching parts thereto.

An object of the invention is the provision of means for accomplishing the above purposes in a simple, efficient and inexpensive manner. and which materially strengthens the top edge of the article.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, and while in its broader aspect it is capable of embodiment in numerous forms, one embodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which-- Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a corner portion of a table or desk top embodying the invention, and Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates the top plate or sheet of a desk or table, which plate may be of stretch-flat sheet steel, and 2 the top surface facing for said plate of linoleum or other suitable material of a non-metallic nature. The facing 2 is cemented to the top plate 1, as well understood in the art. The edges of the plate 1 and facing 2 are trimmed to the desired shape and 1931-. Serial no; 531,949;

preferably given a slight inward and upward incline or taper, as shown. r

A .L-bar bracket str1p3 is 'secured' to'the under side of the plate 1 in inwardly spaced relation-to its edge and preferably extends in substanti ally a continuous form around the plate, the flanges of the bracket being cut at the cornersjto-permit bending of the web or leg portion of the bracket atdesired points,

as shown at 4, to follow the contour of the top.

'The upper flange 5 of the bracket bears flat against the under side of the top plate, being rigidly secured thereto, preferably by spot velding, as indicated ate, and extends inwardly with respect to the adjacent edge of'the plate. 'Thelower flange? of the bracket pro ects outwardly from the bracket web in parallel relation to'the plate 1 and is substantially equal in length to the space between sa1d web and the plateiedge, so that the projecting edge-portion of the'platathe bracket flange? and its web, cooperate to form a mold-receiving channel 8, which preferably" extends. in substantially unbroken mannerentirely around the edge portion, of thetop plate. 1 s f A'molding or edge f'acing'strip ,9 of wood,- or other suitable material, preferably of a non-metallicnature, is fitted closely into the channel. S'andeXt'end'sfentirely around said stop coaction with the respective edges of the plate 1 and bracket flange 7 when the mold is forced in the channel 8. The shoulder 11 is under-cut on an incline to suit the inclined edge surface of the plate 1 and its facing 2,

so as to prevent any raising or loosening of the edge of the facing material 2 with respect to the plate to which secured. It is found in practice that a bracket 3 of substantially the form shown, provides an extremely strong and durable edge reinforcement for the top plate 1 that it can be secured thereto without any appreciable distortion of the top plate, and that it provides a simple and efiicient means for holding the edge mold 9 in rigid relation to the top plate edge.

I wish it understood that the invention is not limited to any specific construction, arrangement'or form of the parts, as it is capable of different modifications and changes without departing from the scope of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is: V

1. A table or. desk top including a top plate member, a bracket secured to theunderside of said member and extending-around its edge portion, said bracket having an outwardly opening recess, a plate edge-protecting mold having a key portion fitting into said recess whereby a downward pressure on the outer upper edge portion of the mold is resisted by the portion of the bracket forming the bottom wall of the recess, and means for firmly holding the mold in engagement I with said bracket.

7 2. A table or desk top including a top plate having a non-metallictop facing, a metallic bracket member secured to the underside of said plate around its edge portion and forming an outwardly facing channel which is substantially continuous 'around the plate edge, a mold extending around the plate edge for protecting the edge of the top facing and having a portion at its inner side fitting into said channel, any tendency of the mold to move downward, by reason of pressure on its upper edge, being resisted by the top side of the bottom wall of said channel, and means adjustably connecting the bracket and inner side of the mold to hold them in firm assembled relation.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

' CLEMENT R; UHL. 

